America's conservative cable TV channel is being sued for airing false 2020 election fraud claims. And court documents suggest that Fox News anchors reported allegations that the vote was “stolen” from Donald Trump even though they knew they were false. The Washington Post’s media critic Erik Wemple joins the team to talk through what's been happening in the case and a bombshell deposition from Fox News owner Rupert Murdoch. When Coronavirus first spread around the world, everyone wanted to know...
Mar 03, 2023•40 min
A busy week for President Biden! On the first anniversary of the Russian invasion, he made a surprise trip to Kyiv to meet President Zelensky, pledging to support Ukraine for "as long as it takes". Biden then gave a speech in Poland to reaffirm America's commitment to Nato. Sarah was on the trip and shares her impressions, and the Americast team also talk to Assistant US Secretary of State Karen Donfried. In Kentucky, a Christian university campus went viral on TikTok after one of its church ser...
Feb 24, 2023•46 min
As a growing number of flying objects are shot down in US airspace, the Biden administration is still trying to explain just what’s going on...and even fielding the odd question about aliens. Why are Americans so obsessed with extra-terrestrials? Meanwhile, on ground level, many are asking why national media took so long to start covering a major train derailment in Ohio that released hazardous chemicals into the air of a nearby village. In Florida, Governor Ron DeSantis has been talking up his ...
Feb 17, 2023•39 min
What clues were there in President Joe Biden’s State of the Union speech that suggest he's considering a run for a second presidential term? The Americast team take a look at what was in it and how his performance has gone down. The US president is already back on the road, but not all Democrats are keen for him to run again. The activist Norman Solomon explains why some on the left of the party would rather Biden stepped aside. And ahead of Super Bowl Sunday we find out what it takes to put tog...
Feb 09, 2023•45 min
After shocking video footage was released of the 29-year-old African-American being beaten to death by five black police officers in Memphis, we ask what might stop police brutality in the US. Sarah and her BBC colleague Chelsea Bailey share insights from their reporting trips to Memphis. And we also ask retired African-American LAPD Sergeant Cheryl Dorsey what should be done differently. With Donald Trump revving up his presidential campaign in South Carolina, the Americast team discusses the t...
Feb 03, 2023•42 min
Lies, lies and more lies. We chat to Republican and newspaper publisher Grant Lally who's known George Santos for years. Why were the concerns he raised about the freshman congressman ignored? And what's behind America’s long-term weight issues? Public health policy advocate, Rhea Farberman, talks obesity. Americast is presented by North America editor Sarah Smith, Today host Justin Webb, the BBC's social media and disinformation correspondent Marianna Spring, and North America correspondent Ant...
Jan 26, 2023•39 min
As America approaches 50 years since the Supreme Court made abortion access a constitutional right, the Americast team investigates how the country has changed since that ruling was overturned last June. As many states make abortion illegal, other “sanctuary states” are encouraging women to cross state-lines for abortions. Dr Anne Udall, CEO and president of Planned Parenthood in Oregon, tells us how her state and organisation are doing that. From one anniversary to another as America celebrated...
Jan 20, 2023•37 min
A special counsel has been appointed to investigate President Joe Biden after aides found classified documents at his private office and home. The Americast team explains what we know so far, why this spells trouble for the president, and the comparisons between this story and the discovery of hundreds of classified documents at Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort. President Biden has also been trying to get his immigration policy in order as his administration's approach faces criticism from both ...
Jan 13, 2023•43 min
The House of Representatives tries (and so far fails) to elect a Speaker. The US House of Representatives has been in deadlock for days after the new Republican majority failed to elect their leading contender Kevin McCarthy as the new Speaker. Americast chats to one of the Republicans voting against him, Representative Ralph Norman, about why they think McCarthy isn’t the man for the job. And the team goes over the key findings from the conclusion of the Jan 6 committee’s inquiry with one of th...
Jan 05, 2023•44 min
The online discussion continues... Since Americast spoke to Dr Anthony Fauci, he has been the subject of Elon Musk tweets. And that’s not all Musk has been up to! The team speaks to a former member of Twitter’s now disbanded Trust and Safety Council about what Musk is doing to online safety. And, as basketball star Brittney Griner is exchanged for notorious arms dealer Viktor Bout, a former White House insider takes us through the growing phenomenon of "hostage diplomacy". Americast is presented...
Dec 14, 2022•45 min
Americast speaks to the doctor who has served seven US presidents about the US coronavirus response, clashes with Donald Trump and his family being targeted by trolls. And the team discusses the president's troubled, son Hunter Biden. Just what is on THAT laptop? Americast is presented by North America editor Sarah Smith, Today host Justin Webb, the BBC's Social Media and Disinformation Correspondent Marianna Spring, and North America correspondent Anthony Zurcher. Find out more about our "under...
Dec 08, 2022•45 min
As more states legalise marijuana, the team explore how America's relationship with the drug has changed. They interview a drug historian and a former adviser to Clinton, Bush Jnr and Obama on drug policy. Americast is presented by North America editor Sarah Smith, Today host Justin Webb, the BBC's Social Media and Disinformation Correspondent Marianna Spring, and North America correspondent Anthony Zurcher. Find out more about our "undercover voters" here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-ca...
Dec 01, 2022•44 min
The blue tick, Silicon Valley sackings and Donald Trump. What impact is all this having on America? A former content moderator at the company, who was fired by Musk, helps us answer that question. And while many say Twitter is going off-the-rails, we talk through the US railroads. What’s working for them and what isn’t? Americast is presented by North America editor Sarah Smith, Today host Justin Webb, the BBC's Social Media and Disinformation Correspondent Marianna Spring, and North America cor...
Nov 23, 2022•43 min
The former US President says he will "save" the US by once again running for the White House. One of his advisers, Jason Miller, takes us through his plans. Americast is presented by North America editor, Sarah Smith, Today host, Justin Webb, the BBC's Social Media and Disinformation Correspondent, Marianna Spring, and North America correspondent, Anthony Zurcher. Find out more about our "undercover voters" here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-63530374 Email Americast@bbc.co.uk with ...
Nov 16, 2022•38 min
As the midterm results continue to come in, the Americast team are back together in Washington DC taking a closer look at the rivalry between Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and former President Donald Trump. And long-time Republican donor for the Trump campaign Dan K Eberhart tells the team why he thinks the party should move in a different direction following the midterms. Americast is presented by North America editor Sarah Smith, Today presenter Justin Webb, the BBC's Social Media and Disinfor...
Nov 10, 2022•42 min
The Americast team are together in the studio in Washington DC for the first time as results in the midterms continue to come in. In their second episode of the night the team look at where the wins are for both the Republicans and the Democrats. They also explore where it leaves Ron DeSantis and Donald Trump as they look ahead to the elections in 2024. Americast is hosted by North America editor Sarah Smith, Today host Justin Webb, North America correspondent Anthony Zurcher and the BBC's Socia...
Nov 09, 2022•30 min
The Republicans look set to take control of the House of Representatives, but the battle for control of the Senate is on a knife-edge. Sarah, Anthony and Marianna get together in Washington to talk through what's been happening so far in the midterms and why it all matters. Americast is hosted by North America editor Sarah Smith, Today host Justin Webb, North America correspondent Anthony Zurcher and disinformation correspondent Marianna Spring. Find out more about our "undercover voters" here: ...
Nov 09, 2022•23 min
President Biden says there is no place for "political violence in America". His warning follows an attack on Paul Pelosi, the husband of US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi, last week. Within hours of that attack a series of unsubstantiated claims began circulating on social media contradicting official accounts of what had happened. Those misleading claims then went viral after being amplified by new Twitter chief Elon Musk. The Americast team look at how the attack has led to the ...
Nov 03, 2022•45 min
There are less than two weeks to go to the midterms. The Americast team look at why Republicans have seized upon the issue of crime and what the Democrats are trying to do to counter that. Professor of Criminology Charis Kubrin, talks the team through the perceived and real threat of crime in the US and the BBC’s Disinformation and Social Media Correspondent Marianna Spring, looks at how our ‘undercover voters’ are being targeted ahead of election day. Americast is presented by North America edi...
Oct 28, 2022•46 min
The Americast team look at the threat that election deniers could pose to democracy if they are elected to office in the upcoming US midterms. The team chat to Alabama Secretary of State and Republican John Merrill and the BBC’s Disinformation and Social Media correspondent Marianna Spring examines whether election deniers are reaching voters through their social media accounts. Americast is presented by North America editor Sarah Smith, Today presenter Justin Webb and North America corresponden...
Oct 20, 2022•41 min
After claiming the 2012 shooting in Sandy Hook was a hoax, it’s a moment of reckoning for America’s conspiracy-theorist-in-chief Alex Jones as he is ordered to pay nearly $1bn in damages to the victim’s family members. Americast explores the huge cultural and social stories that define the increasingly polarised political debate. The team report on a changing country with on-the-ground insights from right across America. Today presenter Justin Webb and North America editor Sarah Smith join North...
Oct 13, 2022•45 min
The Americast team delve into how conspiracy theories evolve online and how misinformation is affecting US politics, with the help of our Undercover Voters and Barack Obama’s former deputy national security adviser Ben Rhodes. US Special Correspondent Katty Kay is back from her trip on Route 66 meeting voters ahead of the midterms. President Joe Biden and Florida’s Republican governor Ron DeSantis have put their political clashes on hold to show a united front over Hurricane Ian. The pair shook ...
Oct 05, 2022•45 min
We’re racing towards the US midterms but don’t worry, the full Americast team is back together to get stuck into the key issues, characters and races, and which party might come out on top. With a little help from Cliff Young, pollster and President of US Public Affairs at Ipsos. And Marianna updates us on what our Undercover Voters are being targeted with. This episode is made by Phil Marzouk and Alix Pickles. The studio director is Emma Crowe. The assistant editor is Louisa Lewis. The senior n...
Sep 28, 2022•46 min
There is growing political tension in America over immigration. States such as Florida, Texas and Arizona have sent thousands of migrants to cities like New York, Washington DC and the wealthy Massachusetts island of Martha's Vineyard. Sarah, Justin and Marianna look at how the row is playing out amongst voters and on social media. Americast also profiles Florida’s Governor Ron DeSantis who has been a key figure in the controversial tactic. This episode is made by Phil Marzouk and Alix Pickles. ...
Sep 21, 2022•42 min
How is the US reacting? From Truman to Biden, the Queen met thirteen of the fourteen US presidents who held office during her reign and left a lasting impression on the United States. Justin, Sarah and Marianna look at the reaction to her death and catch up with the BBC’s Chelsea Bailey in Washington DC, who has been speaking to some of the Queen’s biggest fans. And after a five-year legal fight, an Ohio college will pay nearly $37 million to a local bakery that sued the school for libel followi...
Sep 14, 2022•45 min
Legendary environmental activist talks America’s contaminated water supply. The entire population of Jackson, Mississippi lost access to safe running water after excessive rainfall and flooding. But it’s not the first time there’s been issues with the city’s water supply, or the first case of contaminated drinking water in the US. Justin and Sarah speak to environmental activist Erin Brockovich, who won a case over safe drinking water in California, before being portrayed on film by Julia Robert...
Sep 07, 2022•48 min
Donald Trump, some top secret documents and the FBI. Welcome to episode one of the new-look Americast! Classified documents stored at former President's Florida home were likely concealed as part of an effort to obstruct an FBI investigation, says the US Department of Justice officials. Justin, Sarah and the Zurch chat to former FBI special agent Asha Rangappa, about how attempts to retrieve the documents went down and what could happen next. And Marianna introduces our undercover voters… Americ...
Aug 31, 2022•45 min
We're back! With Justin Webb, Sarah Smith, Marianna Spring and (of course) the Zurch. Join us every Wednesday for all the latest news and gossip from America.
Aug 30, 2022•8 min
A message to Americasters from the Zurch.
Mar 16, 2022•1 min
Biden imposes sanctions on Russia over “beginning of invasion”… Former U.S. ambassador to Russia, Michael McFaul joins Emily, Jon and Anthony to discuss whether President Biden could have done anything differently. And… former homeland security aide to Donald Trump, Miles Taylor explains why he isn’t surprised classified information was found at the former president's home in Mar-a-Lago. He also addresses the claims that Trump clogged up the White House toilets with flushed paper… Americast is m...
Feb 23, 2022•44 min
